[3.] It fits the soul, by giving a right understanding of it, of its nature, its causes, and effects. At the first the soul goes no farther but to look after impunity, or freedom from punishment, any Avay. "What shall I do to be saved?" is the utmost it aims at. "Who shall deliver me? how shall I escape?" And it would be contented to escape any way, — by the law, or the gospel, all is one, so it may escape. But upon this discovery of forgiveness treated of, which is made by faith of adherence unto God, a man plainly sees the nature of it, and that it is so excellent that it is to be desired for its own sake. Indeed, when a soul is brought under trouble for sin, it knows not well what it would have. It hath an uneasiness or disquietment that it would be freed from, — a dread of some evil condition that it would avoid. But now the soul can tell what it desires, what it aims at, as well as what it would be freed from. It would have an in- terest in eternal love ; have the gracious kindness of the heart of God turned towards itself, — a sense of the everlasting purpose of his will shed abroad in his heart; have an especial interest in the precious blood of the Son of God, whereby atonement is made for him ; and tliat all these things be testified unto his conscience in a word of pro- mise mixed with faith. These things he came for; this way alone he
Ver. 4.] VAIN PEETENCES OF FAITH. 425
would be saved, and no other. It sees such a glory of wisdom, love, and grace in foi^giveness, such an exaltation of the love of Christ in all his offices, in all his undertaking, especially in his death, sacrifice, and blood-shedding, whereby he procured or made reconciliation for us, that it exceedingly longs after the participation of them.
All these things, in their several degrees, will this discovery of for- giveness in God, without an evidence of an especial interest therein, produce. And these will assuredly maintain the sphitual life of the soul, and keep it up unto such an obedience as shall be accepted of God in Christ. Darkness, sorrow, storms, they in whom it is may meet withal ; but their eternal condition is secured in the covenant of God, — their souls are bound up in the bundle of life.
From what hath been spoken, we may make some inferences in our passage concerning the true notion of believing ; for, —
1. These effects ascribed to this faith of forgiveness in God, and always produced by it, make it evident that the most of them who pretend unto it, who pretend to believe that there is forgiveness luith God, do indeed believe no such thing. Although I shall, on set pur- pose, afterward evince this, yet I cannot here utterly pass it by. I shall, then, only demand of them who are so forward in the profes- sion of this faith that they think it almost impossible that any one should not believe it, what effects it hath produced in them, and whether they have been by it enabled to the performance of the duties before mentioned? I fear with many, things on the account of their pretended faith are quite otherwise. They love sin the more for it, and God never the better. Supposing that a few barren words will issue the controversy about their sins, they become insensibly to have slight thoughts of sin and of God also. This persuasion is not of him that calls us. Poor souls, your faith is the devil's greatest engine for your ruin, — the highest contempt of God, and Christ, and forgiveness also, that you can be guilty of, — a means to let you down quietly into hell, — the Pharisees" Moses, trusted in, and [yet] will con- demn you. As none is saved but by faith, so you, if it were not for your faith (as you call it), might possibly be saved. If a man's gold prove counterfeit, his jewels painted glass, his silver lead or dross, he will not only be found poor when he comes to be tried, and want the benefit of riches, but have withal a feaxful aggravation of his poverty by his disappointment and surprisal. If a man's faith, which should be more precious than gold, be found rotten and corrupt, if his fight be darkness, how vile is that faith, how great is that dark- ness! Such, it is evident, will the faith of too many be found in this business.
2. The work we are carrying on is the raising of a sin-entangled sold Old of its depths; and this we have spoken unto is that which
426 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM Cxxx. [Ver.4.
must give him his first reUef, Commonly, when souls are in distress, that which they look after is consolation. What is it that they in- tend thereby? That they may have assurance that their sins are forgiven them, and so be freed from their present perplexities. What is the issue? Some of them continue complaining all their days, and never come to rest or peace, so far do they fall short of consolation and joy; and some are utterly discouraged from attempting any progress in the ways of God. What is the reason hereof? Is it not that they would fain be finishing their building, when they have not laid the foundation? They have not yet made thorough work in believing forgiveness with God, and they would immediately be at assurance in themselves. Now, God delights not in such a frame of spirit; for, —